HC Deb 05 November 1996 vol 284 c410W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what right of access the Health and Safety Executive has to Menwith Hill station; if it makes regular health and safety checks; and how many times it has made official visits to the Menwith Hill station. [2153]

Mr. Soames

The Health and Safety Executive has the same right of access to RAF Menwith Hill as at any other MOD establishment. The Health and Safety Executive have visited the site once in June 1996.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what systems are in place to monitor levels of non-ionising electro-magnetic radiation at Menwith Hill station; who is responsible for such monitoring; if their reports are made available to the public; and what precautions are being taken to protect the health and safety of(a) the base population, (b) the local community and (c) the local environment from the effects of non-ionising electro-magnetic radiation emitted by operations at Menwith Hill station. [2157]

Mr. Soames

There is no specific legal requirement to monitor non-ionising electro-magnetic radiation. However RAF Menwith Hill observes and operates in accordance with the National Radiological Protection Board guidelines and the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission a report on the state of the environment at Menwith Hill station, similar to the internal US environmental compliance status survey of 1992; on what occasions his Department has commissioned similar reports in the past; and if he will commission and publish such reports on a regular basis. [2158]

Mr. Soames

No. The commissioning of compliance status surveys is the sole responsibility of the US authorities. These surveys are carried out to US criteria and I am satisfied that the standards applied fully meet those applicable in the UK. Therefore my Department has not commissioned any similar reports and does not intend to do so.